ESTABLISHMENT; thofe two venerable per "fons, who, viewed through Mr. PHILOSO"PHY's glass, appeared to thee in the gigantic "forms of DESPOTISM and SUPERSTITION; "monsters, who have indeed committed the "moft deplorable ravages in the earth, and "whofe very names are therefore calculated to "infpire horror; but who have long fince been "driven far from the regions through whi ch "thou and thy fellow pilgrims have to travel; "and if ever they refume their empire, they will "owe it to Mr. PHILOSOPHY himfelf; who, "by fubverting the authority of those who now "maintain order in the world, will leave the "nations an cafy prey to these cruel invaders, "who will fcarcely neglect fuch an opportu"nity of attempting the re-establishment of their "former power. The mirror of that phantom, "who bore the name of RIGHTS-OF-MAN, "was prepared with the fame magical arts as "the glaffes, through which, unknown to your"felves, Mr. PHILOSOPHY caufed you to view "the fight which is now before you. The men, "who had been deluded with the appearance of "their imaginary chains, were on the point of

rebelling against their governors, and of in"volving themfelves with them in one general "deftruction; when fortunately a person, whose

"

name was COMMON-SENSE, threw a ftone, "which broke the mirror; and immediately the fpell was diffolved, and public tranquillity " was reftored."

"But hold," faid GOOD-INTENT, "though

you have fo clearly fhewn me how falfely "these things were reprefented to me by Mr. "PHILOSOPHY, yet, on looking more atten"tively, I difcern fome perfons yonder who "are loaded with chains of no imaginary weight. "Who are they? and wherefore are they thus " oppreffed ?"

Thofe," faid the INTERPRETER, "are a "few, who did not, so speedily as the reft, for' get what RIGHTS-OF-MAN had taught them. "He had affured them, that of every fpecies of << property, which they beheld in the poffeffion "of others, they were entitled to their re

fpective fhares, That it was allowable for "them to help themselves to those fhares, was "an inference obviously deducible from fuch a "maxim; but, unluckily for them, in the an"cient archives of the ftate, a law was preferved, "which faid, Thou shalt not fteal;' and to the penalties impofed by that law are they (6 now obliged to fubmit.”

"Their bondage then is juft," said GOODINTENT: "yet, if rulers are entrusted with a

“ power

r

power to inflict captivity and death, how can <c any man who is subject to them confider him"felf as in a state of security ?"

"Thofe rulers whom thou feeft before thee, faid the INTERPRETER, "have no power to "flay or to imprison any, but fuch as are con"demned by juft laws and impartial judges; "but, were it otherwise, thy question was an"fwered long ago by one who lived under a "worfe government than thou haft ever seen : "Wilt thou not be afraid of the power? Do "that which is good, and thou fhalt have praise "of the fame; for he is the minifter of GOD to "thee for good: but, if thou doft that which is "evil, be afraid for he beareth not the fword "in vain. For rulers are not a terror to good "works, but to the evil.'-Wherefore, if fe

curity be thy defire, let it be thy study conti"nually to follow after goodness, meekness, temperance: against such, in no country, un"lefs it be where PHILOSOPHY hath establish"ed his dominion, is there any law."

GOOD-INTENT now declared himself entirely relieved from all the uneafinefs which his former imperfect view of things had left upon his mind; and having moft gratefully thanked Mr. INTERPRETER for having thus opened his eyes to the truth, and given him fo many excellent

counfels, he profeffed his readinefs to fet forward again on his journey.

But the INTERPRETER invited him to stay with him all the remainder of that day; "For," faid he, "you would at prefent find yourself "much molested by those who were lately your "companions, and who, about this time,, are "fetting forth on the expedition to which Mr. "PHILOSOPHY hath impelled them; but they "will foon turn into a different road, and tomorrow morning you may refume your jour

ney in peace. I cannot, indeed, promife you "that you will travel very far before you fall in "with fome of those who are enemies to your "king, of whom there are many bands, spread"ing themselves far and wide over the whole "country through which you are to pafs; but "though it will be your duty firmly to refift "fuch, whenever they attempt either forcibly "or fraudulently to turn you from your way, it "is yet unneceffary that you fhould voluntarily "encounter the first fury of the mad troop "which is now about to flue forth, and of "which, if it will gratify you, I can afford "you a speedy view."

GOOD-INTENT being defirous to see them, the INTERPRETER led him to an upper chamber, from which they looked directly towards the

houfe

houfe of Mr. PHILOSOPHY, and could alfo defcry a confiderable portion of the high road. And presently they faw Mr. PHILOSOPHY's gates thrown open, and a numerous company of men rush forth. There appeared among them perfons of all conditions; and GooD-INTENT foon diftinguished, in the midst of the band, those whom he had left behind him the day before in the black temple: he also obferved many others, whom he had seen among the guests of Mr. PHILOSOPHY at fupper; and particularly he remarked the men with the fierce countenances, who had fat apart from the reft, and who wore daggers in their girdles. These were now mingled with the others in one troop: there were, moreover many women in the company; but all bore in their hands fome inftrument of death, which they waved above their heads with hideous yellings; frequently intermixing with their cries the moft horrid blafphemies against Him who reigns on high, and threats against all men on the earth, fuch only excepted as should, like themselves, acknowledge no other lords than ATHEISM and ANARCHY GOOD-INTENT was aftonished to fee that those who had been fo recently his own companions, were animated by the fame frantic spirit as the reft; and he could not forbear expreffing to the INTERPRETER his furprife, that, in fo fhort a time, they should have made fo great a progrefs E 6

in